Erik is a baseball fan who has been attending baseball games and snagging baseballs regularly since 2008.

5-15-10 Great American Ballpark

This would be the second most crowded game that I have ever attended. The attendance of this game was 41,326. The most packed game I ever attended was last year at Citizen’s Bank Park when a Reds vs Phillies match up drew 41,538. At that game, I only managed to snag two balls. Would today be different? I was hoping so, since Cincinnati opens its gates 30 minutes early to season ticket holders.I stayed there for several minutes, but got tired of watching a few balls sail into the lower level seats. I ended up moving all over the place for the rest of batting practice, but it would never lead to any more baseballs.

Batting practice also ended early, as there would be lengthy on field ceremonies to honor Negro League Baseball players and African American ballplayers’ contributions to the Civil Rights movement.

By the way, about that ball in center… It seemed to be a bit too far out to throw my glove out and nudge it closer, plus there was a security guard right there. After batting practice, when he went to get the baseballs that landed in the bat
ters eye, I was going to ask him for one, but I heard him tell another fan, “If I have to give one to you, I have to give one to everyone.”

Apparently, the Civil Rights game is a huge event. I didn’t know this. Had I been aware of the competition I would face, I would’ve headed to Baltimore to see the Indians there.

Some more pictures:Left field wall:Field with podiums and chairs for the on-field ceremonies:Podium:Tonight’s game would be broadcast on the MLB Network:A seemingly never ending stream of inner city baseball little league teams circled around the stadium on the warning track:And continued to the concourse ( and out of the stadium ).Steam boat wheel:The game wouldn’t start until about 7:45 PM due to the lengthy on field ceremonies. Had I stayed at the game, I wouldn’t have gotten home until after 3AM.

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